Mounting for lock mechanism



Jan. 1, 1952 E. N. JACOB! 2,580,548

MOUNTING FOR LOCK MECHANISM Filed July 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l ,Edwafid JacabL 1,1952 E. N. JACOBI 2,580,548

' MOUNTING FOR LOCK MECHANISM Filed July 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 1, 1952 JACOB! 2,580,548

MOUNTING FOR LOCK MECHANISM Filed July 26. 1948 a Sheets-Sheet 3 3 fill/amid Ed arc? .ZXZ'. JTac-ubz g1 gmi Patented Jan. 1, 1952 I 2,580,548 MOUNTING FOR LOCK MECHANISM Edward N. Jacobi, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Application July 26, 1948, Serial No. 40,650

This invention relates to locks and refers more particularly to lock switches of the type adapted to be mounted on the back of an instrument panel of an automobile with the lock plug exposed for key actuation at the front of the panel.

In installations of this nature heretofore available, the lock body ordinarily had a bore of a diameter to snugly receive the lock mechanism and it was customary to secure the lock mechanismiin the bore of the body by means of a retaining pin carried by the lock mechanism casing.

In many instances the lock mechanism (1. e., the plug, its casing and the tumblers) waspositioned in the bore with the forward end of the lock plug spaced inwardly of the end of the lock body to accommodate a bezel and its mounting cylinder. With such a construction it is necessary to cast the bezel receiving end of the body with a counterbore to provide the proper clearance for the key and the bezel which extends into the bore to cooperate with the lock plug.

The opposite end of the lock switch body has a second counterbore to rotatably receive the switch mechanism. Hence, with a cast body having a counterbore at each end it is necessary to use two cores abutting one another and withdrawn from opposite ends. This complicates the casting molds and casting operation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide improved means for mounting a lock mechanism in the bore of a cast lock body which permits the bore of the body to be greater in diameter than the casing of the lock mechanism thereby eliminating the counterbore at the bezel receiving end of the body.

\ More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide mounting means for the lock mechanism of an ignition switch lock which enables casting of the switch body using but a single core.

' A further object of this invention is to so construct the means for securing the lock mechanism in the bore of the body that it inherently prevents the lock casing from rattling and in addition keeps the key from rattling when the lock plug is in its unlocked position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improved means integral with the lock mechanism mountingmeans for retaining a bezel over the end of the lock body.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially 12 Claims. (01. -370) 2 as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate two complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 isa side elevational view of a lock switch having its lock mechanism mounted therein in accordance with this invention, parts being broken away and shown in section, on the plane of the line 1-! in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lock switch'taken along the plane of the line .2-2 in Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a view in cross-section similar to Figure 2 and showing the lock plug turned toward unlocked position by its key;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the manner in which the spring blade retaining means, shown in perspective in Figure '5, is assembled with the lock body;

Figure 5 is a separated detail perspective view showing the front portion of the lock switch body, the spring blade, and the rear portion 0 the lock mechanism;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the assembled lock, portions being broken away and shown in section on the plane of the line 66 in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the lock switch, with a portion ofthe bezel cut away to Show a modified construction wherein the spring blade mounting means also serves to hold the bezel in place;

.Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 with its portion in section taken along the plane of the line 8-8 in Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the modified spring retaining blade.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates generally a lock switch of the type adapted to be mounted upon the instrument panel 6 of an automobile at the rear thereof.

The lock switch comprises a body having an enlarged cup-shaped housing I at the rear to receive switch mechanism (not shown). The switch mechanism forms no part of this invention, but if needed a detailed description thereof may be found in my copending application, Serial underside at the rear thereof.

No. 19,529, filed April 7, 1948, and entitled fElectric Switch.

Extending forwardly from the cup-like housing I is an elongated barrel 8. The front end of this barrel 8 has a number of forwardly projecting arms 9 by which the entire structure is attached to the instrument panel. The manner in which the attaching arms resecured to the panelcon stitutes the subject matter of another of my co,- pending applications, Serial No. 39,008, filed July 16, 1948, now Patent No. 2,558,852, dated July 3, 1951, and entitled Ignition Lock Switch.

The lock mechanism In is adapted tobe received in the bore I i of the barrel &and comprises a pin tumbler lock plug i2 rotatable ina casing The cross-sectional dimension of the casing of the bore and held there by means ofa Spring blade 14.

Thespring blade i4 is a substantially flat rec,-

tangular piece. of spring steel, centrally cut out as at l5 to define two parallel opposite longitudinal sides IS: These sides I6 are received in longitudinal grooves l1 formed in the wall of the bore ll, and thespaced transverse end portions [8 of the bladev bear against the underSide of the lookcasing l3- near the ends thereof;

' Ears iil extending laterally from the forward end'of thespring blade engage between a pair of pins 20 on two of the arms Sand the adjacent end wall 9f of thebarrelto preventjaxial dis placement of the spring blade.

In assembly the spring blade I4, is slid into the bore with its sides I6, riding in the longitudinal grooves i1 until the ears I9 engage the pins 20, andsince the ears [9 areslightly inclined 'with respect to the plane of the spring blade [43 they cam themselves over, the pins to snap in place between-the pins and the end wall 9,. This is shown in Figure 4.

Insertionof the lock, mechanism is effected by sliding the lock casing l3 with the plug I2 therein into the bore, II from its front end and between the spring blade I 4 andthetop ofthebore l I with a longitudinalrib.21, extending alon the top of the casing l3'received in aslot 22 'formedin the top of. thebore II. The; upwardforce of the spring blade l4 against the casing l3,prevents disengagement of the rib 2! from the slot 22 to thereby preclude rotation of the lock casing I3 relative to thelock body 5 and also holds the casing l3 against rattling.

To properly position'the lock mechanism axially within the bore ll and to preclude inward longitudinal shifting of the lock mechanism the look casing I3 is provided with a shoulder 23 on the The shoulder, 23' abuts the edge of a medial hump 24 on the end portion l8 at the rear of the spring blade l4; pin 25 yieldingly projected from the top of the casing 13 adjacent to its rear end cooperates with an edge 26 at the junction ofthe barrel 8 and housing 1 to prevent axial shifting of the lock mechanism in the opposite direction, the pin 25 being; held against depression as long as the plug is in itslocked position of .rotation.

The shoulder-'23, which abuts the front edge of the hump 24 to restrain the lock mechanism- Removal of the lock mechanism is effected by turning the lock plug to the unlocked position, depressing the pin 25, and withdrawing the casing l3. Access to the pin 25 is gained through an aperture 21 in the lock body.

A cap 28 is disposed over the end of the lock plug 12 which extends forwardly of the end of the lock casing l3, to.cooperate= with. a funnelshapedtbezel 29 ;fitted over l the ends of the attaching arms 9 to provide a neat appearance for the front end of the lock, and a pilot bearing for the front end of the lock plug. The bezel also serves to guide the key into the keyway of the lock. plug,

,Ihe, keyway; of; the lock plug is open at its bottom, tobeclosed by the bore in the casing [3. Hence as the pin tumblers bear against the serrated edge of the key in the locked position theypress the plain straight back edge of the key against the bore of the casing. This assists in eliminating rattling v of; the; key; and, the, plug in the locked position.

r, inth nlo ke n t enhere n um;

blersdo not bear against theQedg eohthe-keyeand hence the key has. a tendency to rattle. To elint i; ate, this. a no a e he. r ne, dehas a finger 30. extending; from; the, front .endgof .one i ts d 'mem rs- 6 Aslmay, be. e ninfiii ur v he d. of. the fi er 9 .beaz a nst theplainedge of the key to;urgethe,key,-aga the p. f: e ke 10 nd-thereby p vent. 1. 1 tling of the key in the unlocked position, The portion of the cap 2.8g covering the open endi of the key slot is cu t, away as;at, .2;8,' (see-,Eigurezfil to allow h l ne rl r ach hrou h; theicaaand bear against the k yh dia e r ta .y--v opposite. portion. of the; cap is also cutaway and the keyslqt vbreaksthrough the top of the; plug at, this; point; to .enablethe key slotto be illuminated by a, light. in: back-of the instrument panel above .the barrel18;. A hole 3!, in the, top of; the barrel: allows. the light to enter the bore therein vandito .reflectaofi tha-walls of, the bore untiliitgenters thekeyway of the lock plug, through the two out: out portionsimthecap 28 on the end=ofi the lock: plug.

' The fasteningfoi the bezel: w is: the same-as that, described at-zlengthinz the aforesaid copending application, SerialNo. 39,008 and includesa spring. ring.- 3 21: confined: between cam surf aces- 33 0nv the frontsends on the. attaching arms 9 and theinturnedzedge. of; 12115 118281:

In Figuresfl; 8 and 9:the.bezel:is show-mheld in. place .in asmannen obviating the spring ring 3-2; In 1 its stead spring fingers -35 areextended from the front end of thespr-ing 'blade- Ikto project. through the holeinthetinstrument panel and engage behind the-inturned edge of the bezel; The-fingers-35 a-resubstantially l;shaped 'and their extremities, which point outwardly, are pointed to provide ascending anddescendinggcam surfaces over which the edge 34" of the bezel rides as it is applied; andnwhenthe bezel isin place the resiliency of the spring fingers, 35..

projects-their pointedends into thecireumfer ential channelinthe. fiZel behind itsedge, to hold the bezelin; place.

The, spring blade, of, this modified, embodiment h n nt lso; prov des. a; hela-tin differ.-

point to press against 'the' key in the'unlocked position of the plug; r 7

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that this invention provides an inexpensive and practical manner of mounting a lock plug and its casing in the barrel or body of a lock switch, which has the advantage of simplifying the die casting of the lock switch by obviating the need for more thanone axially pulled core, and of holding the lock casing, the plug therein and the key'against rattling whether the plug is in its locked or unlocked position.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a lock of the character described: a lock body having a bore; lock mechanism inside, said body bore, includinga bored lock casing and a lock plug rotatable therein, said casing being smaller in diameter than the bore of the body and having a portion of its side wall so formed as to expose part of the side wall of the plug; and means for holding the lock mechanism in the bore of the body including a spring blade carried by the body and extending across a portion of the body bore adjacent said portion of the side wall of the casing, said spring blade having means pressing against said exposed part of the plug to keep the same from rattling in the casing and means biasing the casing into firm engagement with the wall of the bore.

2. The lock set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the fact that the lock plug protrudes from the mouth of it casing and is formed to expose an edge of a key inserted into the lock plug; and by the provision of a resilient fin er on the spring blade positioned to press against said edge of the key when the lock plug is turned to its unlocked position to thus hold the key and plug against rattling.

3. In a lock of the character described: a body having a bore; a lock mechanism including a lock casing and a plug rotatable therein, said lock casing being smaller in its cross-sectional dimensions than the bore and being shorter than the bore so that when the lock mechanism is in positionin the bore sufiicient space is left at the front end thereof to accommodate the central portion of a bezel; supporting ledges on the opposite side walls of the bore; a spring blade removably engaged with said ledges and pressing against the side of the lock mechanism to hold the same in place in the bore, with a portion on the lock plug protruding from the front end of the casing; and a. bezel secured in place at the front end of the body withits central portion receiving said portion on the front end of the plug to provide a pilot bearing therefor.

4. In a lock of the character described: a body having a bore; lock mechanism within the bore and comprising a casing and a lock plug rotatable therein, said casing being smaller in diameter than the bore; supporting ledges in opposite side walls of the bore; a spring blade resting upon said ledges and having it medial portion bearing against the side of the casing to hold the lock mechanism against one side of the bore, part of the casing wall being cut away to expose the lock plug; a part on said spring blade engaging and pressing against the exposed part of the plug; and interengaging abutments on the body andspring blade holding the blade against shifting endwise of the bore.

5. The lock set forth in claim 4 further characterized by the provision of: a shoulder on the casing formed by the cutout which exposes the plug; and an edge on the spring blade engageable with said shoulder to restrain endwise movement of the lock plug in one direction.

6. In a lock of the character described: a body having a bore with a longitudinal channel in the wall thereof; lockmechanism within the bore and portion of the blade bearing against the side of the lock casing opposite its longitudinal rib, said blade being biased to press the casing toward the channel and thereby hold the longitudinal rib in the channel. i l

. '7. The lock structure set forth in claim 6 further characterized by the provision. of spring detent means for holding the spring blade in position, said detent means comprising an abutment on the body, and a spring-arm on the blade adapted to snap over the abutment during assembly of the blade with the body.

8. In a lock of the character described: a body having a bore; lock mechanism in the bore comprising a lock casing and a lock plug rotatable therein and having a portion projecting forwardly therefrom, the casing being smaller in diameter than the bore; a bezel having a hole of a size to rotatably receive the projecting portion on the plug; cooperating means on the bezel and the body holding the bezel centered with respect to the body; spring means carried by the body and bearing against oneside of the lock mechanism to hold the opposite side thereof engaged with one side of the bore in the body; and a connection between said spring means and the bezel for retaining the bezel in place and against said centering means on the body.

9. The lock set forth in claim 8 further characterized by the fact that: said spring means comprises a spring blade extending across the bore in the body near one side thereof and pressing against the adjacent side of the lock casing, and spring fingers protruding from the blade and engaging behind an inturned marginal edge on the bezel.

10. In a lock of the character described: a lock body having a bore; lock mechanism inside said bore including a lock casing and a lock plug rotatable therein, said casing being smaller in diameter than the bore; means for holding the lock body inside the bore and against one side thereof comprising a spring blade carried by the body and extending across a portion of the bore in engagement with the side of the lock casing remote from said side of the bore to bias the casing against said side of the bore; and cooperating means on the body and the casing held interengaged by said spring blade for precluding turning of the casing in the bore.

11. In a lock of the character described: a lock body having a bore; a key controlled lock mechanism inside said bore including a lock casing and a lock plug rotatable therein, said casing having a shoulder thereon transverse to its axis; means for holding the lock body inside the bore and against one side thereof comprising a spring blade carried by the body and having a part engaging the lock casing on the side thereof remote from said side of the bore to bias the lock casing against mamma- Midis me". ofxthei bore; and" an; abutment 0111 the springengaging; said: shoulder on; the' lock: casing to preclude axial: displacement; of the: casingarin atzleastnne direction with respecttovtheaspring;

cooperating *meanson the body and'the casingzat, their-e areas .of; engagement .for precludingturning of: theyeasing in the Y bore; and' cooperating elements; onthe: lock body and; thezspring; for precluding; axial displacement of the: spring; with nespectztmthezbodyi 12;: 1112a;lockaofthezcharacten describedtra haying-gabnre opening to-itsrfront; alockmecha ni-smvinsideesaid; borezincludingabasingg mtaakey cpntrolled'. plug; rotatable-wherein; and having its 7 bladecan ied: by the body-rand haying aepartengaging a part of the lock mechanismJQ-bias the same. 'into' firm v engagement, withthe: wallpof the g bore-4n: the-body: andfazpair oijorwardlyextendiing spring fingers on the springbladehookedfinto said flange on the-bwertoxetam thecbezel on the front Oil the body;and to hold its'naperture axially aligned with saidimug;v

N; JAGOBL 7 REFERENCES;CITED: I

'Thefollowing references are. off'record" in the file-"of v this/patent? UNITED. STATES; PATENTS;

Number: Name Date-a I 1,567,701 Briggset. a1. Dec291 I925 212685111 ream- .Dem3(1, I941 2282;983 Bach- May:'1'2, 1942 2 ,820.17 7* Golden. et 3.1.. m May 25,1943

FOREIGNFPATENTS'.

Number Country, Date;

642,502.; Erance;- --..Ma.y-. 9,,1928 

